George Otobe, a boda boda rider known to friends as Omundu, had travelled from Kisumu that Saturday. By afternoon, he was dead, beaten by a mob after what police described as a violent confrontation.
In a statement, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations said preliminary findings suggest Otobe allegedly stabbed another man, Hussein Hassan, during an altercation near the rally venue. The incident, investigators said, triggered an immediate and fatal retaliation.
“The confrontation provoked members of the public who turned against Otobe, resulting in fatal injuries,” the agency said.
A knife believed to have been used in the incident was recovered at the scene.
Otobe’s body was first taken to Vihiga County Referral Hospital, where a post-mortem examination found he had suffered severe head injuries consistent with mob violence. His remains were later transferred to the mortuary at Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital for preservation.
The violence occurred on the same day as a political rally linked to the ODM Linda Mwananchi was touring Kakamega county. The gathering had drawn supporters and leaders, including Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna, though investigators have not directly linked him to the incident.
The DCI warned that public demonstrations, while protected under the Constitution, must remain peaceful.
“Article 37 guarantees the right to assemble, but this right is expressly conditioned on participants being peaceful and unarmed,” the statement said.
Investigators also alleged that some rally participants may have been armed, a claim that has not been independently verified. Authorities said they are pursuing those involved in the killing, as well as anyone who may have contributed to escalating tensions.
Otobe’s family has strongly disputed claims that he was involved in organised violence. Relatives and members of the boda boda community in Kisumu described him as a supporter attending the rally, not a criminal.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen condemned the violence, accusing political actors of fuelling unrest for their own ends.
“This comedy of going to meetings with teargas and carrying goons armed with knives and batons, that we will deal with firmly,” he said during a church service in Kericho County.
The killing has added to growing concern over safety at political gatherings in Kenya, where rallies often draw large crowds and, at times, tensions run high.
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